I think one of the most amazing features on these birds, all wading birds actually, are their feet.
They are so huge, out of proportion to their bodies. And we think of raptors having vicious claws, wading birds are not far behind.
View large if possible, details are good on these shots.
This Spoonbill was not going anywhere so I was able to take my time with setup. I also had just attached my monopod.
While Spoonbills have been around I haven’t seen any groups lately. All the birds have been solitary.
This was taken as the tide was out in a salt marsh. The fresh water areas they prefer have been very deep.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
I write about how the Spoonbill will ‘sift’ through the water, moving their head back and forth, when feeding. These shots are a good example.
This Spoonbill was walking, almost running, through the shallows sifting the water to catch small shrimp and crabs one morning.
Best viewed large.
You can see the water flowing past him as the tide changed.
In this last shot you can see the water going through his open spoon shaped bill. Moving and constantly turning his head allows him to work through all the flowing water.
Roseate Spoonbill.
Nice to have a shot of a Spoonbill not in the muddy water.
Sometimes we get lucky and the play nice.
There were either several Roseate Spoonbill each working a different cut, or one that was faster than me walking down the dike road. There is an opening further back where a bird can take a short cut along the marsh cuts.
As much as I like, and photograph Spoonbills it’s hard to tell them apart LOL.
Adult Roseate Spoonbill.
The other day we didn’t see any flocks of anything. All the locals were scattered around on their own.
Roseate Spoonbills sifted through the small inlets at low tide. They have a small window of time to dig there. When the tide turns water comes in very fast.
Adult Roseate Spoonbill.
This is a ‘one shot makes the day’ type of photograph.
Wood Storks and Roseate Spoonbill, ACE Basin, South Carolina.
You rarely see what the Spoonbills catch by sifting through the mud and water.
Over time I’ve learned it’s probably best that way.
Roseate Spoonbill, ACE Basin, South Carolina.
